Logic of Empire

Future History or "Heinlein Timeline" #17

by Robert A. Heinlein

Heinlein's novella published in Astounding Science-Fiction magazine, March 1941.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories

35 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 1941

About the author

Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, and was thus a pioneer of the subgenre of hard science fiction. His published works, both fiction and non-fiction, express admiration for competence and emphasize the value of critical thinking. His plots often posed provocative situations which challenged conventional social mores. His work continues to have an influence on the science-fiction genre, and on modern culture more generally.
Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science-fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered the "Big Three" of English-language science fiction authors. Notable Heinlein works include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers (which helped mold the space marine and mecha archetypes) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His work sometimes had controversial aspects, such as plural marriage in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, militarism in Starship Troopers and technologically competent women characters who were formidable, yet often stereotypically feminine—such as Friday.
Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices.
Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. Four of his novels won Hugo Awards. In addition, fifty years after publication, seven of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined terms that have become part of the English language, including grok, waldo and speculative fiction, as well as popularizing existing terms like "TANSTAAFL", "pay it forward", and "space marine". He also anticipated mechanical computer-aided design with "Drafting Dan" and described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel Beyond This Horizon.
Also wrote under Pen names: Anson McDonald, Lyle Monroe, Caleb Saunders, John Riverside and Simon York.

Reviews

[Glen Engel-Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sure I had read this story before—I pretty much binged on Heinlein when I discovered him as a teenager—but I didn’t recall any of it as I re-read it recently. That’s probably for the best, as it definitely is not one of his better stories. In fact, the logic proposed here is pretty insidious, if I’m reading this right, in that Heinlein’s saying that slavery—or indentured servitude that for all it is based on economics is basically slavery—is a normal result of exploration and colonization. Given the recent furor over John W. Campbell’s beliefs about the same, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that this was a story that he bought and published first in Astounding. Outside of the questionable logic, the plot and adventure of the story works to some extent, as the main character ends up exploring the nature of that indentured servitude by entering into it himself. Not recommended.

[Sebastian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Otro para el olvido
The Past through Tomorrow es el nombre del recopilatorio en donde aparecen los relatos de esta historia futura, y en ese titulo esta la clave: El pasado a través del mañana
Eso es lo que hace Heinlein, cuenta historias del pasado que vuelven a ocurrir en el futuro humano. En esta, la esclavitud usada en nuevas tierras, ya que de otra manera no sería rentable o factible en la mente de los humanos colonizadores.
De nuevo, el traje de avances tecnológicos es un envoltorio carente de importancia.

[Read Ng · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a social writing mostly taking place on Venus. A good effort for the time, but it doesn't age very well.

Have a GoodReads.

[Ariel Vashchenco · Rating 4 out of 5]

the sudden political economy spin was very necessary, however there is a sense of "oh fuck I'm past the word count I gotta add everything in now" hallway through

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

#16/ Lógica del imperio (1941)

Periodo en el que está basada: mediados del 2000

Sam Jones ( piloto de giroscopios) y Humprey Wingate (Abogado), discuten acerca de la duras condiciones de los operarios en Venus, un contrato ligado a la esclavitud y servidumbre, bajo condiciones legales. Mientras que el primero lo denuncia, el segundo le dice que siempre se puede salir de allí con las cláusulas que hay, y que la dureza es porqué sino todo el mundo cogería dinero y regresaría a los dos días.
A la mañana siguiente, Wingate se despierta a bordo de ‘ La estrella Vespertina’, rumbo a Venus. Confuso y sabiendo que es un error, le confesará a un operario, Hartley, que no sabe qué hace allí. A partir de ese momento, se verá envuelto en una serie de protocolos lentos de rango para intentar liberarse de su destino. Sorprendentemente, encontrará a su amigo Jones, el cual le recuerda que se embarcaron por una pura apuesta en plena borrachera..a ver si es tan fácil liberarse del contrato vinculante. Así pues, a ambos amigos les espera ‘ una experiencia en carnes propias’ acerca de la ‘ Lógica y nueva era del imperio galáctico’, con la destrucción e in humanización de las personas y costumbres...
Nos situamos en una galaxia ya explorada, con unos terrestres que se han apropiado de explotar los sistemas y sacar rendimiento de ello. Son muchos los trabajadores que marchan durante años a los confines más profundos por necesidad económica y son subastados por los capataces ( no nativos) de diferentes satélites hasta que obtienen un pasaje de vuelta a casa.
En éste caso, se nos muestra VENUS (EL PRESENTE PROTAGONISTA DE FONDO DEL RELATO, UNA AUTÉNTICA Y NO ARTIFICIAL COLONIA COMO LUNA CITY), COMO UN PLANETA DE OPRESIVA ATMÓSFERA, DEPRIMENTE Y DESOLADOR, UNA SELVA ENFANGADA, CON LLOVIZNA PERPETUA Y NEBLINOSA, CON QUINCE DIAS DE INVIERNO Y QUINCE DE VERANO, CON ETERNAS JORNADAS SIN LUZ, EN DÓNDE NO SABES QUE TIEMPO DEL DIA ES, EXCEPTO POR LA RUTINA DE COMER, TRABAJAR Y DESCANSAR, Y DÓNDE TU ÚNICO DESCANSO ES EL ALCOHOL CARISIMO PARA SUBIRTE MOMENTÁNEAMENTE LOS ÁNIMOS, Y LA ARTIFICIAL LUZ ULTRA VIOLETA PARA NO DEPRIMIRTE POR LA OSCURIDAD. Y por otro lado, tenemos a Jones, Wingate y otros amigos operarios en su particular cruzada sobre el funcionamiento de la explotación trabajadora, y el capataz e hija, todos VÍCTIMAS DE LAS MALSANAS CONDICIONES DE VIDA, DENTRO DEL SISTEMA CAPITALISTA.
Pero dónde reina la desdicha, se crea LA REBELIÓN, una corriente de ex colonos, huidos de los pantanos de venus, que han edificado una ciudad – gobierno con sus propias leyes, y que mantienen contacto con otras comunidades de esclavos fugitivos ( Lo que después llegará a pasar en cierto modo en Luna City y su libro ‘ La luna es una cruel amante’)..ASÍ QUÉ NO TODO ESTÁ PERDIDO CON LA HUMANIDAD

Historia de PROFUNDA DENUNCIA FILOSÓFICA, DE TOMA Y DACA, LEGALIDADES INFRAHUMANAS Y VUELTA A LAS COSTUMBRES DE ANTAÑO, MOVIDOS POR LA NECESIDAD Y A CAUSA DE LA ESTUPIDEZ HUMANA ( INHERENTE EN EL HOMBRE) QUE PRECISA DE CREAR Y DAR VUELTAS A LOS MISMOS SISTEMAS PARA JUSTIFICAR SUS ACTOS. LA ECONOMÍA DE LIBRE EMPRESA EN EXPANSIÓN NO PUEDE CUBRIR LAS EXIGENCIAS DE CAPITAL, LO QUE LLEVA A LA COLONIZACIÓN, Y ESCLAVITUD...EL RICO ES MÁS RICO, EL POBRE ES MÁS POBRE..Y LA RUEDA NO DEJA DE GIRAR NUNCA ( Y VUELTA A EMPEZAR). TAMBIÉN HAY UNA BUENA CRÍTICA ACERCA DE LA NECESIDAD ‘ SOCIAL’ DE TAPARSE LOS OJOS ANTE LA DESNUDA VERDAD, Y EN CONTRASTE CON LA DEMANDA DE SENSACIONALISMO BARATO POR PARTE DEL PUBLICO ( en el pasaje final, en el cual a Wingate le modifican su libro acerca de su experiencia en Venus)... MUY ACTUAL, VERDAD?...PERO CON LA DESDICHA, VIENE LA REBELIÓN Y EL CAMBIO. LO QUE VIENE A DECIRNOS HEINLEIN ES: ES IGUAL DÓNDE VAYA EL HUMANO Y LO QUE HAGA, SIEMPRE ACABA FASTIDIANDO AL PRÓJIMO...PORQUÉ EL ASUNTO SE LE VA DE LAS MANOS, PERO SU FONDO GLOBAL ES BUENO (discurso que comparte con Capra)

Avances y/ o predicciones Tecnológicas:
- Bacteriógrafo (elimina enfermedades bacterianas de la tierra, necesario para la cuarentena en otros planetas)
- Gravedad modulable integrada en naves

Avances y / o predicciones sociales:
- vuelta del fanatismo religioso ( se nos habla de un nuevo profeta, que reinará sobre los hijos del cielo y destruirá las fuerzas del mal: los terrestres y su explotaciones en los planetas), siempre presente en plena crisis existencial colectiva a lo largo de la historia.
- Unidad de cambio y comercio
- Rebelión de la colonias Venusianas

[Austin Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this book was downright confusing. It originally appeared in Astounding Science Fiction (March 1941), and was collected in The Green Hills of Earth (and subsequently The Past Through Tomorrow).

It just seems like Heinlein wanted to write a fish-out-of-water story about a uppity White man sold into slavery....and how everything was unnatural because he was simply a white Lawyers stuck on Venus.

It is awesome though, that the same setting of Venus is used here, as he used in "Space Cadet". But, this story was here, there, everywhere. Even the ending was odd and rushed.

I do know that, between this story and another, Heinlein intended to write four other stories explaining the world. But, he never did. And this section is just out of place.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Logic of Empire by Robert A. Heinlein is another Future History story by Heinlein which merges a normal earth story with science fiction. The story focuses on indentured servitudes on Venus. While the story jumps around a bit at the beginning, the story also explores Venus, and the Venusians.

In the Future History (and much of Heinlein’s works) other planets are inhabited, Venusians in this book are quite unique and different than earth. Beyond that the main character becomes an indentured servant on the planet and finds out what life on Venus really takes.

The story is quite unique, even if the core of the story is quite common. It’s been a bit of time since I read the story, and I don’t remember it being his best story, but it’s quite entertaining and I wanted to see how Heinlein resolved the entire story.

[Jeff Yoak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice short story.

[Old Man Aries · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in Astounding SF, March 1941.
First collected in The Green Hills of Earth, 1951.